LEGO Architecture: a fan-created enterprise on the LEGO platform

What is the ultimate form of lead-user innovation? That would be to enable lead-users to develop a product and set up a business on your company platform. Sounds outrageous perhaps, but exactly that is what Adam Reed Tucker of Brickstructures and the LEGO Group have pulled off together. LEGO Architecture was officially introduced in 2008 and the line now consists of six buildings – the latest additions include two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous and recognisable buildings – the Guggenheim Museum and Falling Water.

All the models have been developed in collaboration with architects and LEGO Architecture works to inspire future architects, engineers and designers as well as architecture fans around the world with the LEGO brick as a medium. This is particularly powerful as a recent survey indicates that what you play with may have a bearing of your future career choice. Construction toys such as LEGO bricks were found to be instrumental in forming budding architects’ ambitions, with 99 per cent** of architects, including Royal Academy President, Sir Nicholas Grimshaw (architect of the Eden Project), and David Chipperfield, winner of the 2007 RIBA Stirling Prize, having played with the toy bricks when growing up.

Great article Cecilia. I know this was written a few years ago but was wondering what LEGO’s current stance on this sort of innovation is? Are they still open to outside companies building on top of the LEGO platform? Thanks.